Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down is evaluating antibody tests for covid-19; whether those tests contain antibodies derived from animals; and what steps his Department is taking to use non-animal alternatives to antibody production.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is part of the Ministry of Defence. The Dstl is evaluating commercial antibody test kits from around the world, in support of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Evaluation of tests and their contents is ongoing.